Ranking the top fantasy baseball keepers is often an exercise in futility. Even if you strike the perfect balance between consistent stars, youthful upside and declining veterans -- which we've totally done in our updated keeper rankings, by the way -- there are always more variables such as cost (either in terms of round or salary) and/or keeper contract status that can greatly affect a potential keeper's value.

And we haven't even started discussing various league formats or scoring settings.

Paul Goldschmidt (AP Photo)

That's a lot for keeper leaguers to take into account when scanning our keeper rankings for 2014. We've tried to rank each player based on his projected 2014 fantasy impact as well as his long-term value, but it's ultimately up to each owner to customize these rankings to their own situation.

Sorry for the extra work. To atone, here's a look at my picks for the top keepers at each position. These guys aren't necessarily ranked the highest among their peers in our keeper rankings, but I think they have the highest upside and the most long-term appeal. In other words, I'd never give them up in a keeper league.

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks (No. 3). Goldschmidt is only 26 and coming off a true breakout campaign. He should be an MVP candidate for years to come.

Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians (No. 14). Robinson Cano (No. 5) is still the best at the position, but Kipnis, 26, is right on his heels. He's the new Ian Kinsler (No. 62) for owners looking for 30/30 potential.

Manny Machado, 3B, Orioles (No. 53). Machado's recovery from major knee surgery is a concern, but he has plenty of time to recover and develop at just 21 years old.

Jean Segura, SS, Brewers (No. 35). Despite his second-half decline last year, I think Segura, 23, has a lot left in store for fantasy owners.

Yasiel Puig, OF, Dodgers (No. 11). Assuming Mike Trout (No. 1) already carries an "elite" price tag in your keeper league, this is a showdown between Puig, 23, and the Nationals' Bryce Harper (No. 17), 21. That could be a National League narrative for the next decade or so.

Buster Posey, C, Giants (No. 41). Catcher is a notoriously dicey position in keeper leagues, but Posey is worth the risk. Not only is the 26-year-old one of the best young hitters in the game, he also gets to play first and stay in the lineup on his "off" days.

Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers (No. 6). Kershaw, 25, is the perfect blend of youth and consistently elite production despite playing a notoriously volatile position. Though he'll be much more expensive, he's safer than other top keeper options such as Stephen Strasburg (No. 13) or Jose Fernandez (No. 26).

Craig Kimbrel, RP, Braves (No. 32). Speaking of safe, Kimbrel is one of the few perceived "locks" among closers. At 25, he's also the second-youngest closer in our keeper rankings behind Trevor Rosenthal (23 years old; No. 78).